Page 45 of Unholy

“I’m great, baby. Just give me some time, okay?” I nod my head and we keep walking until we reach the diner. He opens the door and ushers me inside and over to a table. We sit down and order as I stare at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re starting at me,” he says.

“I know.”

“Then stop.”

“I don’t want to.” Now, he looks up at me and grins.

“Why?”

“You’re beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful,” he says, causing my heart to leap in my chest. This is the Tristan I’ve missed. The one I want to, although I’ll take any version of him I can get.

“I’ve missed this,” I tell him. He nods his head knowing what’s been happening the last few weeks. It hasn’t been easy on either of us.

“I know. I’m working on it,” he says as I nod my head now.

“Do you want to do something tonight?” I ask him.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Anything.”

“There’s an art show downtown if you want to go to that. I know how much you love art,” he says.

“I’d like that.”

“We need to talk too.”

“About what?”

“You haven’t been going to school.” I look down at the table because I can’t look at him. Strangely, I haven’t felt like going. I want to spend my time with Tristan, which I know is insane, especially all the time.

“I haven’t felt much like going.”

“Because of me.”

“Not just that.”

“What then?” he asks, and I shrug. It is that. I don’t want to walk away from him. I don’t know why there’s this ache in my chest when he isn’t near, but I want to keep it at bay.

“I don’t know, honestly. I love art. It would make sense I want to go, right? But I don’t. Anyway, I’ve been doing some work online.”

“Do you want to sculpt with me?” he blurts, taking me by surprise.

“Really?”

“Why not? You don’t seem to want to leave my side, so you might as well get paid for your time stalking me,” he teases with a gorgeous grin on his face.

“Stalking you? Is that what we’re calling it?”

“Yeah. I see the way you look at me, Ash.”

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